Latch



J. M. AND J. H. DECKER.

LATCH.

APPLICATION F'ILED FEB. 21'. 1919.

1,319,569. Patented Oct. 21,1919.

a7. D 60/? 6 J/vf De /r 6/ gwmnfoz JAMES H. DECKER, or DOUGLAS, ARIZONA.

' JAMES M. DECKER Ann LATCH.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, JAMES M. DECKER and JAMES H. DECKER, citizens of the United States, residing at Douglas, in the county of Cochise and State of Arizona, have invented certain new Latches, of which the following is a specification.

The invention comprehends generally improvements inthat class of inventions known as locks and latches and more particularly relates to an improved latch.

The invention has for its primary aim and object to provide a device of the above mentioned character designed to be attached to a gate post or a door stile for coacting with an arm on an oppositely swinging gate or door for releasably latching the gate or door in a closed position, the component parts ofthe latch being designed to automatically engage the arm and are. capable of being operated manually so as to be re leased from the arm to permit of the swing ing of the door or gate to an open position when desired.

As an additional and equally in'iportant objectthis invention contemplates the provision. of a device of" the above mentioned character wherein oppositely disposed latches in the form of sprocket wheels are loosely mounted for rotary and vertical movement in the supporting frame and are positioned to coact with the adjacent ends of the frame so as to be held against accidental movement and in consequence will effectively hold a gate or door latched.

The invention also embraces the provislon of a device of the above mentioned character wherein there is employed operating levers designed to be operatively connected to the frame and to each other and also to the latches so that when pressure is exerted on either one of the levers both of the latches will be simultaneously raised to a position above the path of movement of the arm on the gate or door to permit the swinging of the latter.

It is a more specific object of this invention to provide a device of the above mentioned characterwherein the frame is of novel construction and is designed to be attached to a gate post or door stile so as to effectively support the working parts in proper relation relative to the arm on the gate or door.

Among the other aims and objects of this Specification of Letters Patent.

and useful Improvements ininvention may be recited the provision of a device of the above mentioned character wherein the number of parts are comparatively few, the construction simple, the cost of production low and'the eiliciency high.

Other objects, as well as the nature, characteristic features and scope of this invention will be more readily apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings and pointed out in the claims, forming a part of this specification.

The invention is clearly illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a side elevation-of the improved latch,

Fig. 2 is a plan view looking beneath the latch.

I Similar characters of reference are employed in all of the above described views, to indicate corresponding parts.

Referring now, more particularly, to the accompanyingdrawings there is disclosed a gate post 1 and a door preferably swingable in opposite directions relati 'e to the post and from the edge of which gate projects a lateral arm .3 with which coacts the improved latch generally designated by the numeral 4, mounted on the gate post.

In reducing the present construction of latch to practice, the same may be said to consist of supporting and attaching frames 5 formed of sheet metal being preferably rectangular in'plan, the terminal portions projecting laterally from. one side of the frame and constituting substantially parallel arranged attaching arms 6 the medial portions of which are bent'arcuately as at 7 to embrace the opposite sides of the gate post, being secured or clamped about the post through the instrumentality of suitable fasteners such as nut and bolt arrangements. In addition the opposite sides of the frame at the upper edge and near the opposite end is formed with vertically disposed opposed semi-circular portions 9 which are provided near their outer edges with arcuate slots 10 for a purposewhich will presently appear.

The latch means in the present instance is in the form of sprocket wheels 11 which are provided with relatively large central openings 12 loosely supported for rotatable and vertical movement about the transverse pivot bolt 13 which extend through the sides of the frame near the opposite ends thereof as indicated. Normally the latch from a point I Patented Oct. 21,1919. Application filed February 21, 1919, Serial No. 278,450.

sprocket wheels lie in extended position in t e path of movement of the arm 3 on the gate so that when the latter is swung to a closed position, the arm 3 will strike the adjacent sprocket wheel raising and partially rotating the latter so as to pass beneath the said sprocket wheel subsequently owing to gravity the wheel will assume its original extended or depending position and it will be prevented from moving'in the opposite direction by the engagement of one of the teeth with the adjacent end of the frame, the engagement taking place at the lower edge of said end which in effect actsas a pawl for preventing either a. raising or rotary motion of the latch. It is apparent that the gate may be swung toward the latch from the outside but when the arm 3 is arranged between the two sprocket wheels accidental movement of the gate is prevented. 7

As intimated, with a view toward providing the improved means for operating or raising the latches a pair of levers 14 are employed, the inner ends being pivotally arranged about the bolt 13, the levers being also arranged in substantial cross-like form especially when in a raised position. Each of the levers near their outer ends are fitted with other bolts 15 which operate in the opposed slots 10 in the adjacent semi-circular portion 9 while knobs 16 are connected to the outer ends of the levers to facilitate the raising thereof. In order that both of the levers may be raised simultaneously or together upon the actuation of either, one of the levers is provided with a slightly arcuate slot 17 while a pin 18 extends from the other lever and operates in the slot, this pin and slot arrangement insuring of the levers moving together. In addition, the lower edges of each of the levers are provided with notches 19 for, disposition about the bolts 13 when the latches are in operative position. i d Q It is believed that in view of the foregoing description that a further detailed description of the operation of the invention is entirely unnecessary. Likewise, it is lieved that the advantages of the invention will be readily apparent.

Still further embodiments of the invention than those herein especially defined may be resorted to as conditions or prefer once may dictate, as may be in keeping with the hereto appended claims.

Having thus fully tion, what is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent, is

.1. A latch of the character described including a frame, latching sprocket wheels loosely mounted in therframe near the ends thereof and prevented from. accidental movement by the ends of the frame, and manually oper ble levers pivotally mounted on the frame and operatively connected with the wheels and to each other.

2. A latch of the character described including a rectangular. supporting and attaching frame formed with opposed semicircular portions on its sidesand near the opposite ends, said semicircular portions having opposed slots therein, latching sprocket described the invenwheels having central openings, bolts arranged transversely through the frame and the openings for rotatably supporting the wheels and permitting of vertical movement of the wheels, the ends of the frame being designed to coact with the teeth of the wheels to prevent accidental movement thereof when the device is in latched position, manually operable levers pivoting on the bolts, means extending and positioned through the openings in the sprocket wheels and operating in the slots to insure of the raising of operation of thelevers, and means for operatively connecting the leverstogether so that when operated both of the wheels will be raised simultaneously.

In testimony whereof, we

tures hereto. JAMES M. DECKER. JAMES H. DECKER,

Copies of this patent maybe obtained for 'five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

. Washington, D. 6.?

from the levers I aflix our signathe wheels upon the. c- 

